NEWSPAPERS n o i t i d E l a i c e p S
Kalu, a 9-year-old African lion, arrived at the Detroit Zoo Nov. 1 and will soon be living alongside Asha and Amirah, two 9-year-old sister lions currently at the zoo.
JANUARY 15, 2025 candgnews.com
Oakland County papers
THERE IS A NEW KING IN TOWN AT THE DETROIT ZOO
Photo provided by the Detroit Zoo
BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN tchristensen@candgnews.com
ROYAL OAK — The Detroit Zoo has a giant addition who is sure to turn some heads. In all his glory, Kalu, a 9-year-old African lion, arrived at the Detroit Zoo Nov. 1 and will soon be living alongside Asha and Amirah, two 9-year-old sister lions currently at the zoo. Kalu is bringing the fire, as he is described as a playful and exciting addition to the lion enclosure. But, he is here for a specific reason: to breed and create new lion babies. Kalu was born on Sept. 10, 2015, in Denver, according to mammal supervisor Flo Yates. Kalu was then relocated to Oklahoma, where he grew up with a variety of different lions, females and males, of all ages. This upbringing makes Kalu a special addition to the Detroit Zoo, and his confidence is quite noticeable, according to zoo staff. “Kalu was raised in a family of lions, in a pride, so he has experience with all different ages and sexSee LION on page 4A
Novi makes school history while Bloomfield Hills repeats at esports state finals BY JONATHAN SZCZEPANIAK jszczepaniak@candgnews.com
NOVI/BLOOMFIELD HILLS — It was a day of state title contenders continuing to add to the trophy room while newcomers are still looking for a place to build one, and it all went down at the Michigan High School Esports League playoffs. On Dec. 7 at Michigan State University, hundreds of players, coaches, and spectators packed the STEM building for an electric day of esports as teams battled it out for a state championship trophy. Teams went head-to-head with familiar faces in the finals while others were fighting deep into the playoffs for the first time in school history. Below is a recap of how local teams in the C & G Newspapers coverage area finished:
Novi
The Wildcats are just one of those teams you expect to see in the playoffs each year, and it really doesn’t matter for which game either. Novi is nationally recognized and has been an esports powerhouse See ESPORTS on page 8A
Students from high schools across Michigan face off in the Valorant semifinals at the Michigan High School Esports League Fall 2024 Esports Championships Dec. 7 at Michigan State University. Photo by Brian Wells